Coronavirus (COVID-19) and epilepsy

Scroll down for the answers to frequently asked questions on Epilepsy and COVID-19

Coronavirus FAQs

Virtual groups - a great way of connecting with others who have experiences of epilepsy, in a safe and relaxed environment.

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People with epilepsy are included in priority group 6 of the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out.

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Last reviewed 16 September 2021

Does having epilepsy put me at increased risk from coronavirus?

Some research suggests people with epilepsy could have a slightly increased risk of getting seriously ill or dying from coronavirus. Because of this possible slight increased risk, people with epilepsy aged 16-64 were invited to receive the COVID-19 vaccine earlier than people without underlying health conditions.

Research by Public Health England shows that vaccination against COVID-19 is highly effective in people with underlying health conditions. So if you have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine you should have a high level of protection from getting ill with COVID-19. But no vaccine offers complete protection and cases are still high. As many restrictions end, it's still important to follow the general guidance to help keep yourself and others safe. This includes meeting people outside or opening windows to let fresh air in if you meet indoors, wearing a face covering in crowded places and washing your hands regularly.

Are the COVID-19 vaccines safe for people with epilepsy?

The Association of British Neurologists says all COVID-19 vaccines are safe for people with neurological conditions such as epilepsy. The COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in the UK have met the strict safety standards set by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA). So far, millions of people have received a COVID-19 vaccine and reports of serious side-effects, such as allergic reactions, have been very rare.

COVID-19 vaccines are not expected to interact with epilepsy medicines. This means the vaccine should not affect how your medicines work, and your medicines should not affect the vaccine.

Like other vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines can cause mild or moderate side-effects including fever. Not everyone will get side-effects, but if you do, most will go away after a few days. For some people with epilepsy, fever can make them more likely to have a seizure. If you are concerned about fever, the International League Against Epilepsy says that taking a fever-reducing medicine such as paracetamol for 48 hours after you have the vaccine reduces the risk. For most people, the risk of serious illness from COVID-19 infection far outweighs the risk of side-effects from the COVID-19 vaccine.

The MHRA has more information about the vaccines approved for use in the UK.

How can I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

People with epilepsy aged 16-64 were included in one of the priority groups to receive the vaccine early, so most people with epilepsy should already have been invited to get the vaccine. If you are 18 or over and think you may have been missed, or haven’t booked your appointments yet, you can book now. For more information and to book your appointments for a first and second dose, visit the website for the place where you live:

England
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales

Many areas also have drop-in vaccination clinics for first and second doses.

People with epilepsy aged 16 and 17 are also eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, but online booking is not available in all parts of the UK for this age group. If you are in this age group and have not been invited to book a COVID-19 vaccination, contact your GP.

The government has recently announced that children with epilepsy aged 12 to 15 will be offered the vaccine, and adults with epilepsy aged 16 and over will be offered a third ‘booster’ dose. The NHS will contact people in these groups to invite them to book their appointments.

Can children with epilepsy aged under 16 get the vaccine?

The NHS is offering COVID-19 vaccination to children and young people aged 12 to 15 with health conditions that may increase their risk of serious illness from COVID-19. This includes children and young people with epilepsy.

If your child is aged 12 to 15 and has epilepsy, you will be contacted by the NHS to arrange their appointments. Your child will be offered 2 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine 8 weeks apart.

Children aged 12 to 15 who do not have underlying health conditions will be offered one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. For most children, these vaccinations will happen at school. The government has not made any announcements about a second dose for children in this group.

Public Health England has published a leaflet about COVID-19 vaccination aimed at children and young people.

Will I be offered a booster vaccination?

If you have epilepsy and are aged 16 or over, you should be offered a third ‘booster’ dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The government has announced that people who were in the priority groups in the first round of vaccinations should be offered a third dose this autumn. This includes:

  • People living in residential care homes for older adults
  • All adults aged 50 years or over
  • Frontline health and social care workers
  • People aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 (this includes people with epilepsy) and adult carers
  • Adult household contacts of people with a suppressed immune system

Booster vaccinations will begin in the week beginning 20 September. The NHS will contact you when it is your turn to get your booster vaccine. You may be offered it at the same time as the flu vaccine.

You will either be offered a full dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine or a half dose of the Moderna vaccine, even if you had a different vaccine for your first 2 doses. If neither of these are suitable for you (for example because you have an allergy to them) you can have the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine if that’s what you had for your first and second doses.

If I catch coronavirus could it trigger a seizure?

Some people with epilepsy are more likely to have a seizure when they are unwell, particularly if they have an illness with a high temperature (fever). Fever is a symptom of coronavirus, so this could trigger seizures for some people with epilepsy.

The best way to protect yourself from having a seizure is to keep taking your epilepsy medicine as usual throughout any illness. If you do get a fever, the NHS says you can take paracetamol or ibuprofen to help bring your temperature down. Both are safe for most people with epilepsy, but check with your pharmacist that they don't interact with your epilepsy medicine.

For most people with epilepsy, a seizure is not a medical emergency and does not need hospital treatment. However, if you are at risk of status epilepticus, make sure you have an up-to-date emergency care plan from your epilepsy specialist. This should tell you and the people around you what to do if you have a seizure and when to call an ambulance.

Are face coverings (face masks) safe for people with epilepsy?

Most people with epilepsy can safely wear simple cloth face coverings. A face covering made of breathable material should not cause any harm if someone is wearing one during a seizure.

Some people have told us they are worried about face coverings making it harder to breathe or making them overheat. There is no evidence that this is a problem with the type of face coverings recommended for the general public, made of breathable material.

If you find that wearing a face covering makes you feel uncomfortable or anxious, it’s worth trying different ones to find one that’s right for you. The gov.uk website has advice about what counts as a face covering. You could also try wearing a face covering for short periods of time at home first, to get used to the way it feels.

If you have other conditions as well as epilepsy and are worried these may affect your ability to wear a face covering, you may wish to check with your doctor. Or you could get advice from a charity that specialises in your medical condition.

Do I have to wear a face covering?

In England, the legal requirement to wear a face covering has ended. But the government still recommends people wear a face covering in crowded places such as on public transport. Many public transport companies and shops will still ask you to wear a face covering, unless you are exempt.

Face coverings are still required by law in other parts of the UK. You can find out more about the different rules on the government websites:
England
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales

Evidence shows that wearing a face covering may help stop the spread of coronavirus to others. So it’s important to wear one if you can.

There are some exemptions to the rules. For example, you do not have to wear a face covering if doing so would cause you severe distress. If you are unable to wear a face covering there is no requirement to prove you are exempt. But if you would prefer to show something, the gov.uk website has printable exemption cards.

I’m worried about catching coronavirus at work but my employer says I have to go in. What can I do?

Depending on the part of the UK you live in and the type of work you do, your employer may be able to ask you to come to work. In England, the government is no longer telling people to work from home, but recommends a gradual return to the workplace over the summer.

Your employer should take steps to protect all their employees at work and make sure your workplace is safe. The different governments of the UK have each issued guidance on working during the coronavirus pandemic:
England

Northern Ireland
Scotland

Wales

Your employer should tell you what steps they are taking to keep you safe at work. If you don’t feel safe being at work, talk to your employer about your concerns. In some cases, they may be able to help you work from home or make other reasonable adjustments. If you don’t feel they are doing enough to make the workplace safe, you can report this to your local authority or the Health and Safety Executive.

ACAS can give advice about your rights at work. They also have information about coronavirus and work on their website.

Do epilepsy medicines stop the immune system working well?

Standard medicines used to treat seizures, known as anti-epileptic drugs, do not suppress the immune system.

A small number of people who have epilepsy as part of a syndrome or other medical condition, may be prescribed medicines that can weaken the immune system. These include steroids and everolimus, a medicine taken by some people with tuberous sclerosis complex. If you are taking these medicines, speak to your doctor for advice.

Will the situation with coronavirus lead to shortages of my epilepsy medicine?

The Department of Health and Social Care is working with drug companies to minimise any impact of coronavirus on drug supplies. Drug companies have already built up stockpiles of medicines in preparation for Brexit and have now been asked to maintain this level of stockpiling. This should mean medicines will continue to be available, even if there are temporary disruptions to the supply chain. If we find out about any shortages of epilepsy medicines, we will post these on our Drugwatch webpage.

My child has epilepsy. Are they at increased risk?

If your child has epilepsy alone and no other health conditions then they are unlikely to be at increased risk from coronavirus. In general, children appear to be less severely affected by coronavirus than adults. But if your child has complex epilepsy or other conditions alongside their epilepsy, you may wish to ask their doctor or epilepsy nurse for advice.

How can I get support while self-isolating?

You’ll need to stay at home and not leave home for any reason (self-isolate) if you or someone you live with:

You'll also need to self-isolate if you've been told to by the NHS Test and Trace service.

The NHS has issued advice about self-isolating including how long to stay home for. In addition, if you have epilepsy it’s a good idea to think about:

Getting food and medicine

While self-isolating, you should arrange for food and medicine to be delivered to you, or ask friends, family or neighbours to collect it for you. Check with your local pharmacy if they offer a medicine delivery service. If you usually collect your prescriptions from your doctor's surgery, you could ask if they can be sent electronically to a pharmacy of your choice instead.

If you need help getting food or prescriptions while self-isolating, here are some sources of help:

Keeping in touch

If you live alone, keep in regular contact with friends, family members or neighbours while self-isolating. You could ask them to contact you regularly by phone or text to check you are ok. This is especially important if you have uncontrolled seizures.

Look after your emotional wellbeing

You may be feeling anxious about coronavirus or your epilepsy. Our information on wellbeing may help. You can also find information about looking after your wellbeing and coping with anxiety related to coronavirus from Mind and Anxiety UK.

Neuropsychologists Professor Gus Baker and Professor Steven Kemp have written an article on surviving the COVID-19 pandemic from a psychological perspective.

Coronavirus - our support for you

Epilepsy health services and COVID-19

Code: 
F161.30

Epilepsy Action would like to thank Dr Rhys Thomas, Honorary Consultant in Epilepsy and Intermediate Clinical Fellow at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, for his contribution to this information.

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